Package of tissues

ABSTRACT

A package of tissues or napkins includes a stack of tissues or napkins and a wrapping sheet. The wrapping sheet extends over at least a first pair of side surfaces, a lower end surface, and at least a portion of an upper end surface of the stack. A first sheet end of the wrapping sheet is provided with a first releasable attachment arrangement for attaching the first sheet end to a first wall of a container accommodating the package of tissues or napkins, and a second sheet end is adapted for being attached to an opposing second wall of the container such that the wrapping sheet holds the stack of tissues or napkins with the upper end surface exposed. The stack of tissues or napkins is easily accessible and may be repositioned in the container.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATION

This application is a §371 National Stage Application of PCT International Application No. PCT/SE2009/050254 filed Mar. 12, 2009, which is incorporated herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to a package of tissues or napkins, more particularly to a package which is adapted to be accommodated in a container. The disclosure also relates to a kit including a package of tissues or napkins and a container.

BACKGROUND

Tissues, napkins and the like are commonly held in a container/dispenser, from which they may be taken by a user. Typically, such a tissue, napkin or the like may be in a size of 10-25 cm by 10-35 cm and may be provided in bundles of 10-250 pieces. Different types of containers for holding and dispensing tissues, napkins and the like are known in the art.

A problem with containers for tissues, napkins and the like having an upper opening for dispensing e.g. the tissues, is that a next tissue is not always easy to reach when some of the tissues have been removed from the container. U.S. Pat. No. 5,065,936 discloses a solution to this problem. A tissue box is collapsible by means of four lateral sides of the box being foldable into the box from its bottom end such that the bottom of the box is repositioned to inside the box. In this way an inner volume of the box is decreased and remaining tissues can be reached from its upper opening. U.S. Pat. No. 6,863,192 provides a different solution to the same problem. Used tissues are pushed into an opening in a bottom of an expandable carton holding a stack of tissues such that the stack of tissues is pressed/moved towards an opening in the top of the carton by the used tissues.

SUMMARY

It is desired to provide a simple and inexpensive solution for dispensing tissues or napkins. A further desire is to provide an arrangement for easy access from above to tissues or napkins from a stack of tissues or napkins accommodated in a container, irrespective of whether the stack is full or almost empty.

According to a first aspect, the above can be achieved by a package of tissues or napkins including a stack of tissues or napkins, the stack having an upper end surface, a lower end surface, a first pair of opposite side surfaces and a second pair of opposite side surfaces, and a wrapping sheet having a first sheet end, a second sheet end, an outer surface and an inner surface facing towards the stack. The wrapping sheet extends over at least the first pair of side surfaces, the lower end surface and at least a portion of the upper end surface. The first sheet end of the wrapping sheet is provided with a first releasable attachment arrangement for attaching the first sheet end to a first wall of a container accommodating the package of tissues or napkins and the second sheet end is adapted for being attached to an opposing second wall of the container such that the wrapping sheet holds the stack of tissues or napkins with the upper end surface exposed.

Since the wrapping sheet is unwrapped when the first and second sheet ends of the wrapping sheet are attached to the container, the tissues or napkins are easily accessible. The wrapping sheet is used for holding and supporting the stack of tissues or napkins in the container and thanks to the first releasable attachment arrangement, the first sheet end of the wrapping sheet may be detached from the container to allow repositioning of the wrapping sheet such that tissues or napkins from a reduced stack are readily available at an upper opening of the container.

As a result, the above mentioned desires can be achieved.

According to example embodiments, the first releasable attachment arrangement may be provided on the outer surface of the wrapping sheet. In this manner, the first releasable attachment arrangement may easily be attachable to an outer surface of the first wall of the container. When the wrapping sheet is folded over an upper edge of the first wall of the container the outer surface of the wrapping sheet at the first sheet end will namely face the first wall.

In example embodiments, the first releasable attachment arrangement may include a re-sealable adhesive. The re-sealable adhesive may be present at the first sheet end for releasable attachment of the first sheet end to the first wall of the container. A re-sealable adhesive may be easily applied to the wrapping sheet and it may provide repeated removal and attachment of the first sheet end to the first wall of the container.

According to example embodiments, the first sheet end may be adapted to be attached to an outer surface of said first wall of said container. The first releasable attachment arrangement may be adapted to be released from a first attachment position on the first wall of the container in order to be reattached in a second attachment position on the first wall. The second attachment position is suitably arranged lower than the first attachment position, to thereby raise the stack of tissues or napkins in the container.

In example embodiments, the second sheet end may be provided with a second releasable attachment arrangement for attaching the second sheet end to the second wall. Thus, the wrapping sheet may also be released and reattached from the second wall of the container. A wide range for adjusting a position of the stack of tissues or napkins accommodated in the container is achieved. The second releasable attachment arrangement may be provided on the outer surface of the wrapping sheet. The second releasable attachment arrangement may include a re-sealable adhesive.

According to example embodiments, the first and second sheet ends may be held together at the upper end surface of the stack. This may be an easy way to provide a stable package of tissues or napkins, which can be handled e.g. during distribution and storage. The first and second sheet ends may be held together by means of at least one of the first and/or second releasable attachment arrangement. The first and/or second releasable attachment arrangement may in this way provide a dual function, for attachment to the container wall and for holding the package together. A release strip may be provided which bridges the first and second sheet ends.

According to example embodiments, the first and/or second releasable attachment arrangement may include at least one connecting element for releasable engagement with a corresponding connector of the container. The connecting element is associated with a sheet end of the wrapping sheet, it may e.g. be glued to the sheet end. The connecting element and the connector provide a possibility for repeated removal and attachment of the first sheet end to the first wall of the container. Further connectors may be provided on the container to allow the connecting element to be attached at different positions on the container.

A second aspect concerns a kit including a package of tissues or napkins as discussed above and a container for accommodating the package. The container may be in a form of a sleeve. The sleeve may be made from cardboard and may be foldable in itself.

Further features of, and advantages with, the present invention will become apparent when studying the appended claims and the following description. Those skilled in the art realize that different features of the present invention may be combined to create embodiments other than those described in the following, without departing from the scope of the present invention, as defined by the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various aspects and embodiments of the invention, including particular features and advantages, will be readily understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a stack of tissues,

FIG. 2 illustrates a container for receiving a stack of tissues,

FIG. 3 illustrates schematically a package of tissues according to example embodiments of the invention, and

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate schematically a respective package of tissues according to example embodiments of the invention arranged in a container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which example embodiments are shown. However, this invention should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Disclosed features of example embodiments may be combined as readily understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

As used herein, the term “comprising” or “comprises” is open-ended, and includes one or more stated features, elements, steps, components or functions but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, steps, components, functions or groups thereof.

As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

As used herein, the common abbreviation “e.g.”, which derives from the Latin phrase “exempli gratia,” may be used to introduce or specify a general example or examples of a previously mentioned item, and is not intended to be limiting of such item. If used herein, the common abbreviation “i.e.”, which derives from the Latin phrase “id est,” may be used to specify a particular item from a more general recitation.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

Well-known functions or constructions may not be described in detail for brevity and/or clarity.

FIG. 1 illustrates a stack 2 of tissues 4. The stack 2 has an upper end surface 6, a lower end surface 8, a first pair of opposite side surfaces 10, 12 and a second pair of opposite side surfaces 14, 16. The tissues 4 may either be interfolded or not interfolded. FIG. 2 illustrates a container 18 for receiving a stack of tissues. The container 18 has first and second opposite walls 20, 22 and two further lateral walls 19, 21. It has an upper opening 24 and may be open also at its bottom end, i.e. forming a sleeve. Alternatively, it may be provided with a bottom part. The container 18 may be manufactured from any suitable material such as cardboard, corrugated cardboard, plastics, wood, metal etc. and it may be offered together with a package of tissues or separately. Together the container 18 and the package of tissues form a kit. When the container 18 is in the form of a sleeve and made from e.g. cardboard, it may be foldable for easy storage or disposal.

FIG. 3 illustrates schematically a package of tissues. Reference numeral 26 generally denotes a package of tissues. The package 26 includes the stack 2 of tissues 4 as illustrated in FIG. 1 and a wrapping sheet 28. The wrapping sheet 28 may be manufactured from any suitable material such as for example paper or plastics. The stack 2 is wrapped in the wrapping sheet 28 with the sheet extending over the first side surface 10, the lower end surface 8, the second side surface 12 and the upper end surface 6 of the stack 2. First and second sheet ends 32, 34 of the wrapping sheet 28 are held together at the upper end surface 6 of the stack 2. FIG. 3 shows a loosely wrapped stack 2 for illustration purposes. In practice the stack 2 may be more tightly wrapped in the wrapping sheet 28 to provide a stable package 26 of tissues that can be handled without risk of falling apart.

At the first sheet end 32 there is arranged a first releasable attachment arrangement 36 comprising a bead of re-sealable adhesive 37. At the second sheet end 34 there is arranged a second releasable attachment arrangement 38. FIG. 3 illustrates an attachment between the first and second sheet ends 32, 34 by means of the first releasable attachment arrangement 36 of the first sheet end 32 attaching against the second releasable attachment arrangement 38 of the second sheet end 34. The second releasable attachment arrangement 38 also constitutes a release strip for the bead of re-sealable adhesive 37.

There are many conceivable ways of holding together the wrapping sheet 28 around the stack 2 of tissues 4 and they need not necessarily involve the first releasable attachment arrangement 36 or the second releasable attachment arrangement 38. The first releasable attachment arrangement 36 provides a primary function when the package 26 of tissues 4 is in an unwrapped form, as will be explained below. The illustrated use of the first releasable attachment arrangement 36 for holding together the wrapping sheet 28 around the stack 2 of tissues 4 may be an additional function.

FIG. 4 illustrates schematically a package of tissues arranged in a container 18, in the form of a sleeve. Reference numeral 39 generally denotes a kit including the package 26 and the container 18. The package 26 of tissues includes a stack 2 of tissues 4 and a wrapping sheet 28. The stack 2 is accommodated in the container 18 with its upper end surface 6 at a level such that an upper tissue may easily be taken from the stack 2. This is achieved by the wrapping sheet 28 being unwrapped and extending over upper end portions of first and second walls 20, 22 of the container 18. Further, the wrapping sheet 28 extends beneath the stack 2, thereby supporting a lower end surface 8 of the stack 2, a first releasable attachment arrangement 36 at a first sheet end 32 of the wrapping sheet 28 is attached to an outer surface of the first wall 20, and a second releasable attachment arrangement 38 at a second sheet end 34 of the wrapping sheet 28 is attached to an outer surface of the second wall 22.

The first and second releasable attachment arrangements 36, 38 include re-sealable adhesive 37, 40. As tissues 4 are being taken from the stack 2 the upper surface 6 of the stack 2 becomes lower and lower inside the container 18. To raise the level of the upper surface 6 of the stack 2 for renewed easy access to tissues 4 accommodated in the container 18, the first releasable attachment arrangement 36 is released from the first wall 20, then the first sheet end 32 is pulled downwards until the wrapping sheet 28 has lifted the stack 2 of tissues 4 to a desired level inside the container 18, and finally the first releasable attachment arrangement 36 is reattached to the outer surface of the first wall 20. The same procedure may be performed at the second wall 22 of the container 18 with the second releasable attachment arrangement 38, either at the same time as the first releasable arrangement 36 to collectively lift the stack 2 or alternatingly at different occasions.

FIG. 5 illustrates schematically a package of tissues 6 arranged in a container 18. Together, the package 26 and the container 18 form a kit 39. The package 26 of tissues includes a stack 2 of tissues 4 and a wrapping sheet 28. The stack 2 is accommodated in the container 18 with its upper end surface 6 at a level such that an upper tissue may easily be taken from the stack 2. The wrapping sheet 28 extends in and around parts of the container 18 and the stack 2 as explained above with reference to FIG. 4. FIG. 5 illustrates different ways of attaching ends of the wrapping sheet to walls of the container 18. At a first sheet end 32 of the wrapping sheet 28, a first releasable attachment arrangement 36 in the form of a stiff strip 42 is arranged. The stiff strip 42 may be made from e.g. cardboard or plastics and forms a connecting element for connecting the first sheet end 32 with a connector on the first wall 20 of the container 18. On the first wall 20 there are provided two connectors in the form of profiles 44 each forming an elongated slit 46 between a profile 44 and the first wall 20. The connecting element at the first sheet end 32 is adapted to releasably engage with the connector, i.e. the stiff strip 42 engages with the profile 44 as the stiff strip 42 at least partially fits into the elongated slit 46. A second sheet end 34 of the wrapping sheet 28 is attached to the second wall 22 of the container 18 by means of adhesive tape 48. Even though such an adhesive tape 48 may be removed from the container 18 to be reattached, e.g. in a different position, it is intended that the second sheet end 34 remains attached to the container 18 until the entire stack 2 of tissues 4 has been used and the empty wrapping sheet 28 is to be removed from the container 18.

As tissues 4 are taken from the stack 2 there is a need to raise the upper end surface 6 of the stack 2. To do so the stiff strip 42 is removed from the illustrated position in engagement with the upper profile 44, the first sheet end 32 is pulled downwards and the stiff strip 42 is engaged with the lower profile 44. Since the wrapping sheet 28 is attached to the container 18 at its second end 34 and extends under the stack 2 inside the container 18, the entire stack 2 will be raised by this operation.

Example embodiments may be combined as understood by a person skilled in the art. For example, the same manner for attaching both first and second sheet ends of a wrapping sheet to first and second walls of a container can be used, as well as any combination of different manners for attaching the first and second sheet ends.

Even though the invention has been described with reference to example embodiments, many different alterations, modifications and the like will become apparent for those skilled in the art. The invention not only relates to packages of tissues but may be used for packages of napkins, cutlery napkins, paper towels, airlaid towels and nonwoven towels or the like. Releasable attachment arrangements in the form of re-sealable adhesive may be protected with a release strip, e.g. a thin plastic sheet, when the package is wrapped. The release strip may prevent the re-sealable adhesive from attaching to unwanted objects and from being contaminated with dust. The protective covering is removed before a sheet end can be attached to a wall of a container. The releasable attachment arrangement may include connecting elements and connectors in the form of hook and loop fasteners. Alternative connecting elements and connectors may be snap fasteners. Alternative connectors may be resilient clips attached to the container walls or the container walls themselves when provided with a slit such that a connecting element may at least partially penetrate the container wall. Connecting elements may be combined with re-sealable adhesive for attaching a sheet end to a wall of a container. The sheet ends may be attached to first and second walls at other locations than an outer surface, e.g. at a top end of a wall. The container may be shaped such that the lateral side walls 19, 21 are provided with a recess at their upper ends. The recesses may e.g. be semi-circular and will make it easy to grab a tissue from the stack, which can be a useful feature if the tissues are not provided with a flap at their upper sides. The container and/or the wrapping sheet may be provided with printed information, specially designed imprints or decorative elements. It is also possible to provide the inside of the wrapping sheet with printed information, specially designed imprints or decorative elements. These would become visible when the wrapping sheet is opened up and attached to an outer wall of the container. It is also envisaged that a special appearance can be achieved by means of the printed information, specially designed imprints or decorative elements on the inside of the wrapping sheet when visible on the outside of the container, e.g. the number of tissues left in the stack.

Therefore, it is to be understood that the foregoing is illustrative of various example embodiments and is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications to the disclosed embodiments, combinations of features of disclosed embodiments as well as other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. 

1. A package of tissues or napkins comprising: a stack of tissues or napkins, said stack having an upper end surface, a lower end surface, a first pair of opposite side surfaces, and a second pair of opposite side surfaces, and a wrapping sheet having a first sheet end, a second sheet end, an outer surface, and an inner surface facing towards said stack, said wrapping sheet extending over at least said first pair of side surfaces, said lower end surface, and at least a portion of said upper end surface wherein said first sheet end of said wrapping sheet is provided with a first releasable attachment arrangement for attaching said first sheet end to a first wall of a container accommodating said package, and said second sheet end is adapted for being attached to an opposing second wall of said container such that said wrapping sheet holds said stack of tissues or napkins with said upper end surface exposed.
 2. The package according to claim 1, wherein said first releasable attachment arrangement is provided on said outer surface of said wrapping sheet.
 3. The package according to claim 1, wherein said first releasable attachment arrangement comprises a re-sealable adhesive.
 4. The package according to claim 3, wherein said re-sealable adhesive is present at said first sheet end for releasable attachment of said first sheet end to said first wall of said container.
 5. The package according to claim 1, wherein said first sheet end is adapted to be attached to an outer surface of said first wall of said container.
 6. The package according to claim 5, wherein said first releasable attachment arrangement is adapted to be released from a first attachment position on said first wall of said container in order to be reattached in a second attachment position on said first wall, and wherein said second attachment position is arranged lower than said first attachment position, to thereby raise said stack of tissues or napkins in said container.
 7. The package according to claim 1, wherein said second sheet end is provided with a second releasable attachment arrangement for attaching said second sheet end to said second wall.
 8. The package according to claim 7, wherein said second releasable attachment arrangement comprises a re-sealable adhesive.
 9. The package (26) according to claim 1, wherein said first and second sheet ends are held together at said upper end surface of said stack.
 10. The package according to claim 9, wherein said first and second sheet ends are held together by at least one of said first and/or second releasable attachment arrangements.
 11. The package according to claim 9, wherein a release strip is provided, which bridges said first and second sheet ends.
 12. The package according to claim 1, wherein said first and/or second releasable attachment arrangement comprises at least one connecting element for releasable engagement with a corresponding connector of said container.
 13. A kit comprising a package of tissues or napkins according to claim 1, and a container for accommodating said package.
 14. The kit according to claim 13, wherein said container (18) is in the form of a sleeve.
 15. The kit according to claim 14, wherein said sleeve is made from cardboard and in itself is foldable. 